15 months after the initial announcement back in November 2016, the official websie for the upcoming live-action drama adaptation of Hikaru Nakamura’s slice of life comedy manga series Saint Oniisan/Saint Young Men finally announced its two leading cast today: 32-year-old Ken’ichi Matsuyama (L in Death Note, Johannes Krauser II in Detroit Metal City) as Jesus and 25-year-old Shota Sometani (Shinichi Izumi in Parasyte, Eiji Niizuma in Bakuman.) as Buddha.

The manga author commented on the casting, “I am really excited with this casting. I am looking forward to seeing Matsuyama-san’s face filled with agape and Sometani-san’s archaic smile.”

The live-action project is executive produced by 34-year-old actor Takayuki Yamada (Yusha Yoshihiko series). Yuichi Fukuda (Gintama, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) is attached to write/direct. Fukuda says, “Actually, I had dreamed of a live-action adaptation of this manga since

its beginning of serialization. When I almost gave up it due to facing various problems, Yamada-san

invited me to join this project. I am really appreciate that my dream has become real at a surprising

timing and through a surprising route. I’ll do my best as relaxing as possible.”

And it is also confirmed that the drama will be available via a new streaming service that is scheduled